# Shep Crawford

Shep Crawford (December 18, 1970) is a Grammy Award-winning American R&B and gospel musician, songwriter, and record producer best known for Whitney Houston's "Same Script, Different Cast", Deborah Cox's "Nobody's Supposed to Be Here", Tamia's "Stranger in My House", Sisqó's "Incomplete", Luther Vandross' "I'd Rather" and Kelly Price's "As We Lay". He is the founder and pastor of The Experience Christian Ministries in Los Angeles, California.

## Early life and influences

Crawford was born and raised in Los Angeles. He attended Carver Missionary Baptist Church with his family where he learned musicianship from Pastor Richard Stubbs. At the age of eight, Crawford began playing the piano and organ for the Carver Church each week. At the age of 19, he became a licensed pastor at Love and Unity Community Church by Pastor Carl A. McCorkle.

## Career

Crawford has written and produced multiple albums for chart-topping artists, including Whitney Houston, Luther Vandross, Tamia, Deborah Cox, Montell Jordan, and Kelly Price.
In 1995, Crawford co-produced the song "Daddy's Home" on Montell Jordan's debut album This Is How We Do It. Jordan brought Crawford on as his music director, after having known each other as musicians in church during their childhood, and Crawford began his professional career.
In 1998, he produced and co-wrote the platinum single Deborah Cox track "Nobody's Supposed to Be Here". The song was certified Platinum in the United States, spending a then-record fourteen weeks at number 1 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, and ranking at number 1 on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart and number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart. In 2017, Billboard ranked the song at number 5 on its Greatest of All Time Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.
It won the Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Soul Single (Female) and was nominated for the Billboard Music Award for Top R&B Song. He also wrote and produced the 1998 Deborah Cox track "We Can't Be Friends" which ranked at number 1 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart for two weeks.
In 1999, Crawford produced and co-wrote the Sisqó song "Incomplete". The song was certified Platinum in the United States and ranked at number 1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 Chart and the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart.
In 2000, he produced the Whitney Houston and Deborah Cox duet "Same Script, Different Cast". It was nominated for the Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Soul Single (Group, Band or Duo). He also began working with Kelly Price and went on to produce multiple albums for her. That same year, Crawford was named as one of the top three producers and songwriters of the year by Billboard.
In 2001, Crawford won both the Grammy Award for Best Traditional R&B Performance for Glady Knight's album At Last and the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album for Yolanda Adams' album The Experience. In 2003, Crawford won the Grammy Award for Song of the Year, the Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance, and the Grammy Award for Best R&B Album, and was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best R&B Song for Luther Vandross' album Dance With My Father. That same year, he wrote and produced the song "Stranger in My House" for Tamia. The song was ranked number 1 on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart. He also founded 45 Live Records with former manager Erica Grayson and signed his first artist Onitsha, to produce her debut album Church Girl in collaboration with Still Waters, a division of Hidden Beach Recordings.
In 2012, he produced select songs on Tamia's album, Beautiful Surprise. The album and song of the same name were nominated for Best R&B Album and Best R&B Song at the 55th Annual Grammy Awards in 2013.

## Discography
### Vocals

| Year | Title | Album | Label | Other Artist(s) |
| 1995 | Daddy's Home | This Is How We Do It | PMP Records | Montell Jordan |
| 1996 | I Am L.V. | I Am L.V. | Tommy Boy Records, East West Records | L.V. |
| 1999 | We Can't Be Friends | One Wish | Arista Records | Deborah Cox |
| 2000 | Same Script, Different Cast | Whitney: The Greatest Hits | Arista Records | Whitney Houston, Deborah Cox |
| 2001 | Beautiful Girl | Jersey Ave | MCA Records | Jersey Ave |
| 2010 | Same Script, Different Cast | The Essential Whitney Houston | Arista Records, Sony Music, Legacy Recordings | Whitney Houston, Deborah Cox |

### Instruments and performance

| Year | Title | Album | Label | Other Artist(s) |
| 1996 | I Am L.V. | I Am L.V. | Tommy Boy Records, East West Records | L.V. |
| 1996 | I Like | I Like (single) | Def Jam Recordings | Montell Jordan feat. Slick Rick |
| 1997 | All About Us | Time | Mushroom Records | Peter Andre |
| 1997 | Dreaming | 98° | Motown, BMG Direct Marketing | 98° |
| 1998 | Nobody's Supposed to Be Here | One Wish | Arista Records, BMG | Deborah Cox |
| 1998 | All Night, All Right | Time | Mushroom Records | Peter Andre feat. Warren G |
| 1999 | Keys | Keys (single) | TVT Records | LaTanya |
| 1999 | Careless Whisper | The Dance | Capitol Records | Dave Koz feat. Montell Jordan |
| 1999 | We Can't Be Friends | One Wish | Arista Records | Deborah Cox |
| 2000 | Tell Me Who | Can't Go For That | Elektra Records | Tamia |
| 2000 | Same Script, Different Cast | Whitney: The Greatest Hits | Arista Records | Whitney Houston, Deborah Cox |
| 2000 | Married Man | Mirror Mirror | Def Soul | Kelly Price |
| 2000 | Thank You in Advance | Thank You in Advance (LP) | Universal Records | Boyz II Men |
| 2001 | Don't Deserve | Weekend | Arista Records | Kenny Lattimore |
| 2001 | Stranger in My House | Stranger in My House (single) | Elektra Records | Tamia |
| 2001 | At Last (album) | At Last | MCA Music Corp of America | Gladys Knight |
| 2001 | I Gotta Believe | Believe | Elektra Records | Yolanda Adams |
| 2001 | I'd Rather | Luther Vandross | J Records | Luther Vandross |
| 2001 | Against All Odds | Urban Renewal | WEA Records, Warner Music Australasia | Various Artists |
| 2002 | Starting With You | The Morning After | J Records | Deborah Cox |
| 2002 | I Showed Her | O2 | J Records, BMG | O-Town |
| 2003 | Buy Me a Rose | Dance with My Father | J Records | Luther Vandross |
| 2004 | Tomorrow | More | Elektra Records | Tamia |
| 2006 | Wait a Minute | In My Mind | RCA Records | Heather Headley |
| 2006 | Love and I | Between Friends | Image Entertainment, Plus 1 Music Group | Tamia |
| 2006 | This Is Who I Am (album) | This Is Who I Am (album) | Ecclecti Sounds Entertainment, GospoCentric Records, Zomba Label Group | Kelly Price |
| 2010 | Same Script, Different Cast | The Essential Whitney Houston | Arista Records, Sony Music, Legacy Recordings | Whitney Houston, Deborah Cox |
| 2010 | Settle | For Colored Girls: Music From and Inspired by the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack | Atlantic Records | Various Artists |
| 2011 | Mirror | Unbelievable | Shanachie Records | Keke Wyatt |
| 2012 | Because of You | Beautiful Surprise | Plus 1 Music Group | Tamia |
| 2014 | Sing, Pray, Love, Vol 1: Sing (album) | Sing, Pray, Love, Vol 1: Sing | eOne | Kelly Price |
| 2015 | Black Butterfly | Love Life | Def Jam Recordings, Plus 1 Music Group | Tamia |

### Writing and arrangement

| Year | Title | Album | Label | Other Artist(s) |
| 1995 | Daddy's Home | This Is How We Do It | PMP Records | Montell Jordan |
| 1997 | Dreaming | 98° | Motown, BMG Direct Marketing | 98° |
| 1998 | Anything and Everything | Let's Ride | Def Jam Recordings | Montell Jordan feat. Master P and Silkk the Shocker |
| 1998 | Nobody's Supposed to Be Here | One Wish | Arista Records, BMG | Deborah Cox |
| 1998 | Talk Show Shhh! | Talk Show | Universal Records | Shae Jones |
| 1998 | When You Get Home | Let's Ride | Def Jam Recordings | Montell Jordan |
| 1999 | Once Upon a Time | Get It On... Tonite | Def Soul | Montell Jordan |
| 1999 | Nobody's Supposed to Be Here | Totally Hits | Arista Records | Various Artists |
| 1999 | Keys | Keys (single) | TVT Records | LaTanya |
| 1999 | Incomplete | Unleash the Dragon | Def Soul, Dragon Records, Creative Management Group | Sisqó |
| 2000 | Tell Me Who | Can't Go For That | Elektra Records | Tamia |
| 2000 | If I Were You | A Nu Day | Elektra Records | Tamia |
| 2000 | Careless Whisper | The Dance | Capitol Records | Dave Koz feat. Montell Jordan |
| 2000 | Same Script, Different Cast | Whitney: The Greatest Hits | Arista Records | Whitney Houston, Deborah Cox |
| 2000 | I Finally Know | Nathan Michael Shawn Wanya | Universal Records | Boyz II Men |
| 2000 | Married Man | Mirror Mirror | Def Soul | Kelly Price |
| 2000 | Never Let Go | My Everything | Universal Records | 98° |
| 2000 | Thank You in Advance | Thank You in Advance (LP) | Universal Records | Boyz II Men |
| 2000 | Tell Me Who | Can't Go For That | Elektra Records | Tamia |
| 2001 | I'd Rather | Luther Vandross | J Records | Luther Vandross |
| 2001 | Against All Odds | Urban Renewal | WEA Records, Warner Music Australasia | Various Artists |
| 2001 | Stranger in My House | Stranger in My House (single) | Elektra Records | Tamia |
| 2001 | Nobody's Supposed to Be Here | Oh What A Feeling 2, A Vital Collection Of Canadian Music | Universal Records | Various Artists |
| 2001 | I Didn't Realize | Jesse Powell | MCA Records, Victor Entertainment, Silas Records | Jesse Powell |
| 2001 | Fo' Sho' | Believe | Elektra Records | Yolanda Adams |
| 2001 | What's Wrong | What's Wrong | MCA Records | Pam & Dodi |
| 2001 | At Last (album) | At Last | MCA Music Corp of America | Gladys Knight |
| 2001 | Don't Deserve | Weekend | Arista Records | Kenny Lattimore |
| 2001 | Incomplete | Top Of The Pops 2001 Volume One | Universal Music TV | Various Artists |
| 2001 | Stranger in My House | Totally Dance | Arista Records | Various Artists |
| 2001 | Nobody's Supposed to Be Here | Fashion Cares: 15th Anniversary Retrospective | Universal Records | Various Artists |
| 2001 | Beautiful Girl | Jersey Ave | MCA Records | Jersey Ave |
| 2002 | Always Been Your Girl | This Is Who I Am | RCA Records, BMG Canada | Heather Headley |
| 2002 | I Showed Her | O2 | J Records | O-Town |
| 2002 | Starting With You | The Morning After | J Records | Deborah Cox |
| 2003 | Miss You | My Soul | DreamWorks Records | |
| 2003 | Sleep in the Middle | Bittersweet | Arista Records | Blu Cantrell |
| 2004 | Stranger in My House | Still (Dance Mixes) | Arista Records | Tamia |
| 2004 | We Can't Be Friends | Ultimate | Ultimate Records | Deborah Cox |
| 2004 | Tomorrow | More | Elektra Records | Tamia |
| 2004 | Nobody's Supposed to Be Here | Oprah's Pop Star Challenge 2004 Cast Album: Dreams Really Do Come True | Epic Records | Various Artists |
| 2004 | Stranger in My House | All That Urban | Warner Music Australasia | Various Artists |
| 2005 | Sleep in the Middle | Hit 'Em Up Style: Chart And Club Hits Of Blu Cantrell | CMG | Blu Cantrell |
| 2006 | Love and I | Between Friends | Image Entertainment, Plus 1 Music Group | Tamia |
| 2006 | Wait a Minute | In My Mind | RCA Records | Heather Headley |
| 2006 | Please Don't Forget | Grateful | Light Records | Coko |
| 2006 | The Closing | The Book Of David: Vol. 1 The Transition | GospoCentric Records, Zomba Label Group | Dave Hollister |
| 2006 | This Is Who I Am (album) | This Is Who I Am (album) | Ecclecti Sounds Entertainment, GospoCentric Records, Zomba Label Group | Kelly Price |
| 2008 | The Promise (album) | The Promise (album) | Deco Recording Group | Deborah Cox |
| 2008 | Incomplete | R&B Love Collection 2008 | Universal Music TV | Various Artists |
| 2010 | Settle | For Colored Girls: Music From and Inspired by the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack | Atlantic Records | Various Artists |
| 2010 | Same Script, Different Cast | The Essential Whitney Houston | Arista Records, Sony Music, Legacy Recordings | Whitney Houston |
| 2011 | Everybody's Girl | Love? | Island Records | Jennifer Lopez |
| 2011 | Mirror | Unbelievable | Shanachie Records | Keke Wyatt |
| 2011 | Play Your Part | S.O.U.L. | Sony Music Commercial Music Group | Deborah Cox |
| 2012 | Because of You | Beautiful Surprise | Plus 1 Music Group | Tamia |
| 2014 | Sing, Pray, Love, Vol 1: Sing (album) | Sing, Pray, Love, Vol 1: Sing | eOne | Kelly Price |

### Production

| Year | Title | Album | Label | Other Artist(s) |
| 1995 | Daddy's Home | This Is How We Do It | PMP Records | Montell Jordan |
| 1995 | Jungle Groove | Ace Ventura (When Nature Calls) | MCA Soundtracks | Various Artists |
| 1995 | I Am L.V. | I Am L.V. | Tommy Boy Records, East West Records | L.V. |
| 1997 | Dreaming | 98° | Motown, BMG Direct Marketing | 98° |
| 1997 | All About Us | Time | Mushroom Records | Peter Andre |
| 1998 | All Night, All Right | Time | Mushroom Records | Peter Andre feat. Warren G |
| 1998 | Nobody's Supposed to Be Here | One Wish | Arista Records, BMG | Deborah Cox |
| 1998 | Talk Show Shhh! | Talk Show | Universal Records | Shae Jones |
| 1998 | When You Get Home | Let's Ride | Def Jam Recordings | Montell Jordan |
| 1998 | Once Upon a Time | Get It On... Tonite | Def Soul | Montell Jordan |
| 1999 | Careless Whisper | The Dance | Capitol Records | Dave Koz feat. Montell Jordan |
| 1999 | Incomplete | Unleash the Dragon | Def Soul, Dragon Records, Creative Management Group | Sisqó |
| 1999 | We Can't Be Friends | One Wish | Arista Records | Deborah Cox |
| 1999 | Keys | Keys (single) | TVT Records | LaTanya |
| 1999 | Once Upon a Time | Get It On... Tonite | Def Soul | Montell Jordan |
| 1999 | Everytime | Talk Show | Universal Records | Shae Jones |
| 2000 | Never Let Go | My Everything | Universal Records | 98° |
| 2000 | Thank You in Advance | Thank You in Advance (LP) | Universal Records | Boyz II Men |
| 2000 | Married Man | Mirror Mirror | Def Soul | Kelly Price |
| 2000 | A Nu Day (album) | A Nu Day | Elektra Records | Tamia |
| 2000 | Tell Me Who | Can't Go For That | Elektra Records | Tamia |
| 2000 | Same Script, Different Cast | Whitney: The Greatest Hits | Arista Records | Whitney Houston, Deborah Cox |
| 2000 | I Finally Know | Nathan Michael Shawn Wanya | Universal Records | Boyz II Men |
| 2001 | I Didn't Realize | Jesse Powell | MCA Records, Victor Entertainment, Silas Records | Jesse Powell |
| 2001 | Stranger in My House | Stranger in My House (single) | Elektra Records | Tamia |
| 2001 | At Last (album) | At Last | MCA Music Corp of America | Gladys Knight |
| 2001 | Based on a True Story (album) | Based on a True Story | Elektra Records | Lil' Mo |
| 2001 | Against All Odds | Urban Renewal | WEA Records, Warner Music Australasia | Various Artists |
| 2001 | What's Wrong | What's Wrong | MCA Records | Pam & Dodi |
| 2001 | I'd Rather | Luther Vandross | J Records | Luther Vandross |
| 2001 | Fo' Sho' | Believe | Elektra Records | Yolanda Adams |
| 2001 | I Believe I Can Fly | The Experience | Elektra Records | Yolanda Adams feat. Gerald Levert |
| 2001 | Beautiful Girl | Jersey Ave | MCA Records | Jersey Ave |
| 2002 | With a Kiss | The Kiss | GospoCentric Records | Trin-i-tee 5:7 |
| 2002 | Starting With You | The Morning After | J Records | Deborah Cox |
| 2002 | Never Let Go | My Everything | Universal Records | 98° |
| 2002 | I Showed Her | O2 | J Records | O-Town |
| 2002 | Always Been Your Girl | This Is Who I Am | RCA Records, BMG Canada | Heather Headley |
| 2003 | Sleep in the Middle | Bittersweet | Arista Records | Blu Cantrell |
| 2003 | Buy Me a Rose | Dance with My Father | J Records | Luther Vandross |
| 2003 | Play Your Part | Ultra Dance 04 | Ultra Records | Deborah Cox |
| 2003 | Something Happened on the Way to Heaven / Starting with You | Something Happened on the Way to Heaven / Starting with You | J Records | Deborah Cox |
| 2003 | Tomorrow | More | Elektra Records | Tamia |
| 2005 | It's Gon Be Nice | Day by Day | Atlantic Records | Yolanda Adams |
| 2006 | Please Don't Forget | Grateful | Light Records | Coko |
| 2006 | Wait a Minute | In My Mind | RCA Records | Heather Headley |
| 2006 | Love and I | Between Friends | Image Entertainment, Plus 1 Music Group | Tamia |
| 2006 | The Closing | The Book Of David: Vol. 1 The Transition | GospoCentric Records, Zomba Label Group | Dave Hollister |
| 2007 | Church Girl (album) | Church Girl | Hidden Beach Recordings, Still Waters Recordings | Onitsha |
| 2007 | Back For My Heart | Sampler | Not On Label | The Blayse |
| 2008 | The Promise (album) | The Promise (album) | Deco Recording Group | Deborah Cox |
| 2010 | Settle | For Colored Girls: Music From and Inspired by the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack | Atlantic Records | Various Artists |
| 2010 | Same Script, Different Cast | The Essential Whitney Houston | Arista Records, Sony Music, Legacy Recordings | Whitney Houston |
| 2011 | A Treasure (album) | A Treasure | Reprise Records | Neil Young / International Harvesters |
| 2011 | Mirror | Unbelievable | Shanachie Records | Keke Wyatt |
| 2012 | Because of You | Beautiful Surprise | Plus 1 Music Group | Tamia |
| 2014 | Sing, Pray, Love, Vol 1: Sing (album) | Sing, Pray, Love, Vol 1: Sing | eOne | Kelly Price |
| 2015 | Black Butterfly | Love Life | Def Jam Recordings, Plus 1 Music Group | Tamia |

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role |
| 1996 | The Nutty Professor | Writer ("Bounce 2 This"), Producer ("Jungle Groove") |
| 2009 | Not Easily Broken | Writer ("Have to Go Through It") |
| 2010 | For Colored Girls | Writer ("Settle") |
| 2011 | Madea's Big Happy Family | Writer ("Tired") |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2003 | Star Search | Writer ("Nobody's Supposed to Be Here"), Writer ("Incomplete") | 2 episodes |
| 2004 | New Zealand Idol | Writer ("Incomplete") | Episode: "Top 24 Group 3 Performance Show" |
| 2004 | Canadian Idol | Writer ("Nobody's Supposed to Be Here") | 3 episodes |
| 2005 | American Idol: The Search for a Superstar | Writer ("Incomplete") | Episode: "Top 11 Perform" |
| 2007 | Idols | Writer ("Stranger in My House") | Episode: "Top 4: My Idols" |
| 2013 | Dancing with the Stars | Writer ("Woman's World") | Episode: "Cher Week" |
| 2014-16 | Unsung | Himself | 2 episodes |
| 2016 | Superstar Duets | Writer ("I'd Rather") | Episode: "Do or Die" |

## Awards and nominations

In 2000, Crawford was named as one of the top three producers and songwriters of the year by Billboard.

### Grammy Awards

| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
| 2001 | Glady Knight's At Last | Grammy Award for Best Traditional R&B Performance | Won |
| 2001 | Yolanda Adams' The Experience | Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album | Won |
| 2003 | Luther Vandross' Dance With My Father | Grammy Award for Best R&B Song | Nominated |
| 2003 | Luther Vandross' Dance With My Father | Grammy Award for Song of the Year | Won |
| 2003 | Luther Vandross' Dance With My Father | Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance | Won |
| 2003 | Luther Vandross' Dance With My Father | Grammy Award for Best R&B Album | Won |
| 2013 | Tamia's Beautiful Surprise | Grammy Award for Best R&B Album | Nominated |
| 2013 | Tamia's Beautiful Surprise | Grammy Award for Best R&B Song | Nominated |

### ASCAP Awards

| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
| 2000 | Deborah Cox's Nobody's Supposed to Be Here | ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Award | Won |
| 2000 | Deborah Cox's We Can't Be Friends | ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Award | Won |
| 2002 | Tamia's Stranger in My House | ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Award | Won |

### Billboard Music Awards

| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
| 1998 | Deborah Cox's Nobody's Supposed to Be Here | Billboard Music Award for Top R&B Song | Nominated |

### Soul Train Awards

| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
| 1998 | Deborah Cox's Nobody's Supposed to Be Here | Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Soul Single – Female | Won |
| 1999 | Deborah Cox's Nobody's Supposed to Be Here | Soul Train Lady of Soul Award for Best R&B/Soul Song of the Year | Won |